Micro spray gun

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a high volume, low pressure paint spray gun connectable to a paint source, an atomization air source and a shaping air source. The paint spray gun is provided with a spray gun body which is in fluid communication with the paint source, the atomization air source for atomizing paint and the shaping air source for shaping paint spray patterns. The spray gun is further provided with a nozzle which defines a paint atomizing zone for discharging atomized paint and a paint spray pattern shaping zone shaping atomized paint spray patterns. The spray gun is further provided with a paint hose, atomization air hose, and shaping air hose each having an inlet end which is connected to the spray gun body and a discharge end which is connected to the nozzle. The spray gun is further provided with a bendable, shape-retaining paint conduit having an inlet port which is connectable to the spray gun body and an outlet port which is connectable to the nozzle. The hoses extend through and are contained within the paint conduit. The paint conduit allows the nozzle to be self-supporting for maintaining the paint atomizing and shaping zones remote from and at any angle relative to the spray gun body for selectively discharging atomized paint and shaping resulting paint spray patterns thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A high volume, low pressure paint spray gun connectable to a paint source, an atomization air source and a shaping air source, the paint spray gun comprising: a spray gun body in fluid communication with the paint source, the atomization air source for atomizing paint and the shaping air source for shaping paint spray patterns;   a nozzle defining a paint atomizing zone for discharging atomized paint and a paint spray pattern shaping zone shaping atomized paint spray patterns;   a paint hose having an inlet end connected to the spray gun body and a discharge end connected to the nozzle;   an atomization air hose having an inlet end connected to the spray gun body and a discharge end connected to the nozzle;   a shaping air hose having an inlet end connected to the spray gun body and a discharge end connected to the nozzle;   a bendable, shape-retaining paint conduit having an inlet port connectable to the spray gun body and an outlet port connectable to the nozzle, the hoses extending therethrough and contained therein; and   wherein the paint conduit allows the nozzle to be self-supporting for maintaining the paint atomizing and shaping zones remote from and at any angle relative to the spray gun body for selectively discharging atomized paint and shaping resulting paint spray patterns thereof.   
     
     
       2. The paint spray gun of claim 1 wherein the paint conduit being rotatably attachable to the spray gun body. 
     
     
       3. The paint spray gun of claim 2 wherein the paint conduit comprises an input coupling for rotatably attaching the paint conduit to the spray gun body. 
     
     
       4. The paint spray gun of claim 1 wherein the paint conduit being rotatably attachable to the nozzle. 
     
     
       5. The paint spray gun of claim 4 wherein the paint conduit comprises an output coupling for rotatably attaching the paint conduit to the nozzle. 
     
     
       6. The spray gun of claim 1 wherein the spray gun body further comprises: a paint valve in fluid communication with the paint source for selectively controlling paint flow;   an atomizing air valve in fluid communication with the atomizing air source for selectively controlling atomizing air flow; and   a shaping air valve in fluid communication with the shaping air source for selectively controlling shaping air flow.   
     
     
       7. The spray gun of claim 6 wherein the atomizing air valve and the shaping air valve being under common control. 
     
     
       8. The spray gun of claim 1 wherein the paint conduit being formed of metal. 
     
     
       9. The spray gun of claim 1 further comprises a pressure gauge attachable to the spray gun body and in fluid communication with the atomization air hose. 
     
     
       10. The spray gun of claim 1 wherein the paint conduit defining a longitudinal axis and having a radial diameter along the longitudinal axis which is less than a half of an inch. 
     
     
       11. The spray gun of claim 1 wherein the nozzle defining a longitudinal axis and having a radial diameter along the longitudinal axis which is less than a half of an inch. 
     
     
       12. The spray gun of claim 1 wherein the nozzle comprises: a paint hose fitting, an atomization air hose fitting, and a shaping air hose fitting, each sized and configured to receive the respective output ends of the paint, the atomization, and the shaping air hoses;   an atomization chamber, the paint and the atomization air hose fittings terminating within the paint atomization chamber, for atomizing paint from the paint source with the atomizing air from the atomizing air source; and   a shaping air exit port in fluid communication with the shaping air hose fitting, sized and configured to direct shaping air in a direction of paint atomized in the paint atomization chamber.   
     
     
       13. An extended nozzle assembly for use with a high volume, low pressure paint spray gun connectable to a paint source, an atomization air source and a shaping air source, the paint spray gun having a spray gun body in fluid communication with the paint source, the atomization air source for atomizing paint and the shaping air source for shaping paint spray patterns, the extended nozzle assembly comprising: a nozzle defining a paint atomizing zone for discharging atomized paint and a paint spray pattern shaping zone shaping atomized paint spray patterns;   a paint hose having an inlet end connectable to the spray gun body and a discharge end connectable to the nozzle;   an atomization air hose having an inlet end connectable to the spray gun body and a discharge end connectable to the nozzle;   a shaping air hose having an inlet end connectable to the spray gun body and a discharge end connectable to the nozzle;   a bendable, shape-retaining paint conduit having an inlet port connectable to the spray gun body and an outlet port connectable to the nozzle, the hoses extending therethrough and contained therein; and   wherein the paint conduit allows the nozzle to be self-supporting for maintaining the paint atomizing and shaping zones remote from and at any angle relative to the spray gun body for selectively discharging atomized paint and shaping resulting paint spray patterns thereof.   
     
     
       14. The extended nozzle assembly of claim 13 wherein the paint conduit being rotatably attachable to the spray gun body. 
     
     
       15. The extended nozzle assembly of claim 14 wherein the paint conduit comprises an input coupling for rotatably attaching the paint conduit to the spray gun body. 
     
     
       16. The extended nozzle assembly of claim 13 wherein the paint conduit being rotatably attachable to the nozzle. 
     
     
       17. The extended nozzle assembly of claim 16 wherein the paint conduit comprises an output coupling for rotatably attaching the paint conduit to the nozzle. 
     
     
       18. A high volume, low pressure method of painting comprising the steps of: (a) providing a high volume, low pressure paint spray gun connectable to a paint source, an atomization air source and a shaping air source, the paint spray gun comprising: a spray gun body in fluid communication with the paint source, the atomization air source for atomizing paint and the shaping air source for shaping paint spray patterns;   a nozzle defining a paint atomizing zone for discharging atomized paint and a paint spray pattern shaping zone shaping atomized paint spray patterns;   a paint hose having an inlet end connected to the spray gun body and a discharge end connected to the nozzle;   an atomization air hose having an inlet end connected to the spray gun body and a discharge end connected to the nozzle;   a shaping air hose having an inlet end connected to the spray gun body and a discharge end connected to the nozzle;   a bendable, shape-retaining paint conduit having an inlet port connectable to the spray gun body and an outlet port connectable to the nozzle, the hoses extending therethrough and contained therein; and   wherein the paint conduit allows the nozzle to be self-supporting for maintaining the paint atomizing and shaping zones remote from and at any angle relative to the spray gun body for selectively discharging atomized paint and shaping resulting paint spray patterns thereof,     (b) selectively bending the paint conduit; and   (c) selectively discharging atomized, shaped paint from the paint spray gun.